The “Yi Liang Pavilion” in Suzhou’s Humble Administrator’s Garden, which had been closed to the public for over 500 years, has finally reopened.

Back in the day, the Central Garden and the Western Garden of the Humble Administrator’s Garden were owned by two separate families. The owner of the Western Garden built mounds and pavilions, allowing residents of both gardens to enjoy each other’s views and borrow scenery from one another—hence the name “Yi Liang Pavilion.”
The pavilion’s most renowned glazed-tile windows were restored using a technique that replicates traditional lacquered-shell window designs. When sunlight shines through the translucent tiles, they shimmer with a pearly luster, immersing visitors in the garden’s timeless elegance and inspiring admiration for the aesthetic sensibilities and ingenuity of our ancestors.

Today, 3D printing technology can faithfully recreate the exquisite charm of the Yi Liang Pavilion’s glazed-tile windows. This particular piece combines semi-transparent and opaque materials to accurately reproduce the windows’ light-transmitting effect.

Placing this work on your desk, as light filters through the floral lattice, it feels as though you are engaging in poetic dialogue with the ancients. In that moment, the profound depth and sophistication of “Chinese aesthetics” become vividly tangible.

Note: After printing, use a hair dryer to gently heat the back side of the piece while it’s still warm, then carefully fold the floral lattice at a slight angle so it can stand upright on your desk. If you don’t have transparent materials available, you can print a hollowed-out single-flower-window version instead; either way, the beauty of Chinese aesthetics will remain fully appreciable.